leader -- netanyahu, with the minority leader, also with palestinian authority leaders. we visited jerusalem, the golan heights and some of the fabulous farming communities near the sea of gally. for someone who had never visited israel, in fact, i had never seen the mediterranean sea in my entire life. to get to visit it with people who are steeped in the history, the politics and the worldwide consequences of our relationship with israel, it was a tremendous experience. so i want to thank the gentlewoman from florida for including me on the congressional delegation that she led to israel and, mr. speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields back the balance of her time. under the speaker's announced policy of january 6, 2009, the gentlewoman from florida, mrs. wasserman shelt, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. was was thank you, mr. speaker. first -- ms. wasserman schultz: thank you, mr. speaker. first before she departs the chamber, let me say what an absolute pleasure it was to travel

also indications that benjamin netanyahu, who was scheduled to meet with president obama, the trip has been cancelled. here is the front page of "usa today." wendy will be talking later about one of the topic. they divided into three areas. the gulf coast -- "top kill" failure dashes hopes. the situation in north korea appeared -- north korea. the sinking of that ship back on march 26 that killed 42 south korean sailors has prompted south korea's government to throttle back on aid to the north and demand the u.s. back its quest for sanctions against can young ill -- kim jong-il. holding off the turnover of military power to its military by u.s. forces, which have had a large base here since the korean war. then this other story from israel, as the sea fight provoked new tensions in the region. we begin with charles joining us from all possible, texas, democrats line. caller: thank you for c-span. internationally when it comes to foreign relations, we have nothing but troubles and domestically we have nothing but troubles. but as far as economics is concerned, because europe is kind of

. >> holman: israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu vowed today to stop another aid ship heading for gaza. the "rachel corrie" was on schedule to reach the israeli exclusion zone, 20 miles offshore, by saturday morning, despite a maritime blockade on gaza. an irish nobel peace laureate, mairead corrigan maguire, was on board. she said activists would not resist if israeli forces board the ship. nine people were killed on monday when commandos raided a flotilla of aid ships, and fighting erupted on one. in afghanistan, a three-day peace conference came to a close. delegates at the peace jirga issued a resolution urging the government to negotiate with the taliban. it said militants who take part should be removed from a u.n. list that imposes travel and financial restrictions. president hamid karzai offered his own appeal to the militants during his closing remarks in kabul. >> dear taliban members who are dissatisfied, use this opportunity. this is the voice of the afghan people and this is the voice of peace. embrace it, come and join souse that we can rebuild our country with our o

. >> when you think prime minister netanyahu might come back? and prime minister -- president of's next week? -- president abbas next week? >> that is moving 43 for the israeli answer, he has got an open invitation. i would direct the scheduling -- the particulars of that scheduled to that government. >> egypt has apparently opened one of the entrances to gaza in response to this to allow more traffic in and out. the united states think that is a good idea? >> and let me check on that. we do have concerns about the humanitarian situation in gaza. >> rachel corrie s-chip is scheduled -- the ship rachel corrie is scheduled to ride in gaza tomorrow. the israelis are planning to inspected. >> let me get some information on the extent of that. i will find that answer route. >> [unintelligible] there is a dialogue started tomorrow with hillary clinton. i understand prison [unintelligible] obama -- if the u.s. is supporting india in the security council? >> i do not know what the remarks are for thursday. >> i understand the state department said that

we extend the invitation to prime minister netanyahu to address a joint session of congress as soon as possible. if the enemies were to see both sides of the aisle standing and applauding the prime minister of israel, the message couldn't be more clear. it needs to be clear and unequivocal. we support our friend and there is not a great deal of distance between our two countries. we're close friends. and if i might inquire how much time is remaining. the speaker pro tempore: 2 1/2 minutes. mr. gohmert: in closing, let me just refer to this little bible my aunt says my uncle received going into world war ii from the federal government when he went to the army, it says may the lord be with you. and i realize this may be the last couple of minutes we are in session. so these are words of franklin d. roosevelt, white house, washington, as commander in chief, i take pleasure in commending the reading of the bible to all who serve in the armed forces of the united states. throughout the centuries, men of many faiths and diverse religions have found in this book words of wisdom, counsel and i

i stressed this point in a conversation with prime minister netanyahu of israel. in answer to the right honorable and learned lady's specific questions about british nationals, 42 british nationals are caught up in this. i believe that around 37 of them have had consular access and that all of them will be coming home, and we need to make sure that they are reunited with their families as fast as possible. the right honorable and learned lady also raised the issue of international efforts to get the blockade open. as she knows, and as the shadow foreign secretary will know, we should do everything we can through the united nations, where resolution 1860 is absolutely clear about the need to end the blockade and to open up gaza. i would say in addition that friends of israel -- and i count myself a friend of israel -- should be saying to the israelis that the blockade actually strengthens hamas's grip on the economy and on gaza, and it is in their own interests to lift it and to allow these vital supplies to get through. >> i thank the prime minister for that answe

netanyahu return from north america. we will see what comes out of that if indeed any thing.internal of the investigation and inquiry that we have called corporate i stressed that it is important to make the case for the investigation and for the lifting of the blockade. i think it would be wrong to characterize everyone in israel as insensitive to international opinion. this is an argument that has to be one within israel as well as in the rest of the world. that is why we take this approach and i am sure that is the right approach. >> good morning. it is a little rich for the israeli government to justify its behavior on the grounds that it is denying material to a terrorist organization when it has in the recent past shown itself willing to hproscribe force against other nations. >> you are adding to a strength of feeling and points that will be widely noted and taken, i hope taken out of in israel itself. >> this is an illegal act in international waters which involves many countries. surely the only way we can have an independent inquiry is if we can do this internationa

here is the comments from benjamin netanyahu. >> good evening.israel is confronting an international hypocrisy. this is not the first time. two years ago, we acted against -- hamas shot at us and hid behind the citizens. we wanted to prevent a the pain to the innocent populations. who is accused of war crimes, not hamas but israel. regretfully, something similar is happening now. here are the facts. hamas is continuing to arm itself and iran is continuing to smuggle weapons to the gaza. the rockets that they are smuggling are intended to hurt the settlements around gaza. i remember that they warned about it and today, i am telling you that the rockets that iran is planning to send to gaza and will hurt tel aviv, jerusalem, and even beyond. some as it is already within gaza. this is our duty and right according to the international law and the common sense to prevent these weapons from entering gaza. the previous government understood this and they impose a naval blockade on gaza to prevent any smuggling of weapons to hamas. last week, this was an

. >> holman: israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu met with cabinet ministers today on ways to enforcen arms embargo on gaza while allowing in civilian goods. in afghanistan, delegates at a k-frpb in kabul-- the peace jirga-- moved toward endorsing a plan to reach out to the taliban. but it was unclear which leaders the government could work with. meanwhile, eight afghan civilians died in violence in the south. and u.s. officials announced an american soldier was killed on tuesday. jury selection began today in the federal corruption trial of former illinois governor rod blagojevich. he allegedly tried to profit from his power to fill president obama's former senate seat. blagojevich arrived this morning at the chicago courthouse with his wife, patti. they stopped briefly before a phalanx of cameras. defense attorney sheldon sorosky said he will call white house chief of staff rahm emanuel, among others, as witnesses. >> i don't know if they're all going to testify. i don't know who the government is going to call. they certainly haven't told us yet. but they would all acknowledge the

. >> woodruff: in jerusalem, israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu insists lifting the blockade would open the door to illicit arms shipments to hamas. >> ( translated ) : now the rockets and missiles that iran is trying to get into gaza-- and some are already there-- at aimed at tel aviv, and jerusalem. it is our responsibility and our right, accordinging to international law and common sense, it is our duty to prevent these weapons from entering via airways, the sea, and the ground into gaza. >> woodruff: the blockade will be tested again in the coming days. an irish cargo ship may try to break through the israeli cordon as early as tomorrow. for more on the legality of israel's actions on monday and its ongoing blockade of gaza, we get the views of two international law scholars. anthony d'amato is a professor at the northwestern university school of law. and ruth wedgwood is a professor at the school of advanced international studies at the johns hopkins university. thank you both for being with us. let me turn to you, professor d'amato. was israel within rights on monday to board

a spokesman for prime minister benjamin netanyahu outlined the new terms today. they include letting construction materials for civilian projects into gaza. >> the government of israel took decisions to liberalize the system under which civilian goods may enter the gaza strip. to expand materials for projects inside gaza that are under international supervision, but, of course, we must remain with the security procedures that prevent the import into gaza of weapons and more materials that could strengthen the hamas military machine. the militant group hamas rules gaza and a spokesman called the israeli move nothing more than "window-dressing." the chief negotiator for the palestinian authority, saeb erekat, was critical as well. >> there is no such thing as easing the siege. this siege must be totally and completely lifted. this is a collective punishment against 1.5 million people living in gaza. it has no political dimension. >> sreenivasan: an israeli naval blockade of gaza will stay in place. last month, israeli commandos killed nine people on aid ships bound

least one check point that had been blocked off and a spokesman for israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu said israel would consider ways to ease rather than end the blockade. another ship now off the coast of italy is heading toward gaza and presumably another off-shore confrontation later this week. late today, president obama spoke to turkish prime minister in a phone call. a white house statement said mr. obama expressed condolences for the loss of lives and he promised support for a credible investigation of the israeli raid. >> lehrer: now the other news of the day. here is hari sreenivasan in our news room. >> sreenivasan: al qaeda acknowledged today its number three leader has been killed. the group announced the death of mustaf a al yazid along with his wife and other relatives. it gave no details. u.s. and pakistani officials said it happened in north waziristan along the afghan- pakistani border. they said he was killed by a u.s. missile attack last month. iraq has moved one step closer today to a possible end of its election impasse. the country's supreme court ratified the re

european foreign ministers today pressured israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu to ease the blockade of gaza. in luxembourg, middle east envoy tony blair said that could happen soon. >> the prime minister has always drawn this distinction between keeping weapons out and allowing goods necessary in. i think that distinction can best be addressed through moving through the prohibited list but all the way through, that is, the key thing for israel. they will maintain the blockade but they are prepared to let in goods that are necessary tore people's ordinary lives. >> sreenivasan: palestinian president mahmoud abbas rejected the israeli inquiry plan. he said it falls short of u.n. demands for an impartial investigation. the death toll from a flash flood in arkansas climbed to 20 today when another body was found in the little missouri river. last friday, before dawn, heavy rain sent a wall of water through a popular campground, while campers were still sleeping. flash floods also hit oklahoma city, oklahoma today, closing several interstates and streets. crews rescued at least 50 people

netanyahu or president obama? >> psident obama. he says nothing. the palestinians do nowant to talk with me. [inaudible] commtalk to us. we have something that needs to bebridged andafter that we will talabout other things. what do u think about this pointethat poi? >> what is it you are looking for from him? what are you looking for, some gn of seriousness? seriousness? >> exactly. we want for him to say these are two projects-- no projects-- n the security, on the border. >> issues. >> security and borders. look at it. is that acceptable to you? okay, let us talk, let us speak. everybody in the world talks abt the borders of a. security, we will ve you assurances, maybe0 years, 2 years, whateveyou want. so that people are secure inside of their borders. at the same time i don't have--. >> that is the fear i think israelis have is that becuse of what hapened in gaza they withdrewnilaterally from gaza. they witraw from the west bank >> they should withdraw unaterally as they did in gaza. we tell them, pleaseet-- do it with us. they say with you, no

host: "the wall street journal" frontpage lead story -- netanyahu decries offensive of hypocrisy. and warren buffett of housing bubble -- i was wrong on it, too. warren buffett said moody's does not deserve special blame for not seeing the housing market collapse. his berkshire hathaway owns a stake in the firm. at&t and limits on web data, what it means for internet usage in the future and pricing, also on their front pages this morning. below that, on publishing, the future of the book as vanity press goes digital. this is telling us, much as blogs been in and to news business, youtube, television, now a powerful new nation of books threatening the industry. george, independent line. your biggest concern war were repaired caller: the morning, susan. good morning all intelligence c- span watchers. the last caller took all the wind out of my sale. i just agree with her 100%. a big farmer, oil, wall street, insurance companies have bought the best government taken by a -- big pharma. next on my list is top six is nuclear proliferation, especially with iran and north korea appeared

netanyahu cut short one trip abroad. can a tough nationalist emerge as a statesman? waukesha, wisconsin. good morning. caller: i believe that the profits coming out of the goal should go to the american people. and 25% can go to the superfund, 25% to deficit relief, and 25 for a sense i should be reimbursed to the american people. and and now you say they are going to leave? we can drill our own oil and get 100% of the profits. they keep acting like it is their oil, as if they made the oil. they did not make the oil. they are drilling a hole and sucking up the oil. that is our oil, the oil of the american people. we deserve 75% of the profits. host: this is from "roll call," this morning. "the problem for senator kerrey is all that work may be for naught if he can persuade a handful of republicans and as many democrats. joe lieberman discussed putting a price that allowed different industries for different reduction targets. michigan, good morning. caller: on the proposal for the superfund, i am on the fence on this. the reason is when they start accumulating money f

prime minister netanyahu didn't stay, he went to the embassy. he didn't need to be blackmailed into anything. and i realized, we're all victims of the environment in which we grew up and if you grew up in an environment, say, for example, chicago, where you're used to snubbing folks and you do that to friends and it's no big deal, it's understandable that would be brought to the white house. but the truble is, -- trouble is, when you're the most powerful executive in the world and you snub a friend, there are international implications. things likes that -- like that have been known to start wars and cost thousands and thousands of lives. activity like that has consequences. the world has been watching while we snub our ally who has more of the same rights in their nation that we have in this one than any nation in the middle east, and we're snubbing them? and we're trying to force them to do what they did in giving away land to southern lebanon, giving away the gaza strip. not defending itself. now demanding that they show all of their weaponry

prime minister benjamin netanyahu canceled his plans to meet with president barack obama tomorrow so that he can return to israel. president obama was supposed to speak at the abraham lincoln national cemetery today, but rain caused cancellation of the event. joe biden placed a wreath at arlington national cemetery. ♪ [taps plays] >> vice president biden was at arlington national cemetery today at a ceremony honoring those who gave their lives in the nation's service. he was joined by admiral mike mullen. this is just under one hour. ♪ [national anthem plays] [military commands] [drumroll] [taps plays] ♪ [military commands] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the introduction of the vice-president, honors, introduction -- invocation, and the national anthem. command chaplain and the united states military army, the superintendent of the arlington national cemetery, the commanding general of the joint force headquarters, admiral michael mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, the deputy secretary of defense. ladies and gentlemen, the vice president of t

i will se to our colleagues, asking them to requestjority ldeid and spepesi invite pri minister netanyahu. thi leer says and let me preface this by sayi, it's entirely predictable thathere would be an effort to test or it's entirely predtae., israel. when you showhat separion between your strongest ally to your enemies then your enemies are goi to think about testing to see if this may be agood me to attack a that's what e flotillasere ing. they were a test. and what th saw was the united ates, through this admistration beingeluctant to jump outhere andake it clear how inappre was to se people to intentionly run thelockade when all israel was yi to do was pct themselves. and so, mr. speaker, m hopeing that people wl encourage -- hoping that people will encourage their members of coress to sign ono can get the priinister a qukly possiblso that the wod will see, bh sides of thaisle anding and applauding this eat leaderf this great natio and thethere is a resolution. people keep talking sanctions and it is beyond time to talk about sanctions. according to iaeisrael already has enough enriche

getting signatures on asking the speaker and majority leader reid to please invite prime minister netanyahu to stand at that podium and speak to a joint session of congress saying iran and all of israel's enemies will see both sides of the aisle standing and applauding the prime minister, the leader, israel, so they know -- there may be some games being played around here in washington, but we will defend our friend and ally in israel. we have shared belief systems in the value of human lives. both israel and the united states believe women, for example, are not property, that they're not someone to have honor killings of if you think they have embarrassed your family. they are a country that does not believe that because you practice some other religion, it's ok to kill you. it's a country that believes that i may disagree with what your say but i'll defend your right to say it. i know we are moving away from that. and i know there are some country who say you disagree with me, i'm not not only going to defend your right to say it, but get your job taken away from you, i want to take away

it is laughable to hear netanyahu to say that they own that land. they are european jews. they are not semites, no more than i am. it is ridiculous to think they have a right to that land. host: northport, florida. cynthia, democratic call. caller: i have been in israel 17 times. my husband's family lives there and also we had members of family -- people just talk about israel and they did not know anything about it or have been there. they don't understand what is going on there. because it is light -- it is like a mentality we have here, nazi mentality. the jews, his grandfather was a israel in 1906. i don't understand these people talking that way. helen thomas -- i mean, she is entitled to her opinion. but it is like a nazi mentality to talk about people should go back to where they come from, after maybe they have been living on the land may be hundreds of years. i don't understand that. it is not right at all. and the american people, i don't understand what they are doing. host: that call from northport, florida. albany, new york, mackenzie, republican of color. cal

here is israel's benjamin netanyahu commenting on the raid. >> good evening.he state of israel is confronting international hypocrisy. it is not the first time. two years ago, we acted against the hundreds of missiles that the hamas shot towards israel after we left gaza. they shot at our citizens and hit behind the citizens. the idea of exit against hamas% -- to prevent as much as possible the innocent population being hurt. despite all of this, [inaudible] regretfully, something similar is happening now. here are the facts. hamas is continuing to arm and iran is smuggling weapons. i need to clarify that the missiles and rockets that iran is smuggling to gaza are intended to hurt the settlements around gaza. i remember that i i remember thatn the past and today, i am telling you, the missiles and rockets that iran is smuggling into gaza hurt tel aviv, jerusalem and even beyond. some of it is already within gaza. this is why it is our duty and our right, according to the international law, to prevent this weapons from g weaponsaza through the air or sea. this

more likely that an american will participate in any investigation, and also, prime minister and netanyahus now saying he is willing to evaluate new ideas on the blockade of gaza. visit the u.s. have any new ideas in this regard -- does the u.s. have any new ideas in this regard? >> we can confirm that a u.s.- jewisturkish was killed on the flotilla. our ambassador has been in contact with the family. we have offered our heertfelt condolences and any kind of counselor assistance that the family might need this time. we are still gathering information about what happened. we know that there was another american citizen injured on one of the ships. there is also a third american who was injured during a subsequent protests and remains hospitalized. protecting the welfare of american citizens is a fundamental responsibility of our government, and one that we take very seriously. we are in constant contact with the israeli government, attempting to obtain more information about our citizens. we have made of -- no decisions at this point on any additional specific actions that our government sh

also indications that benjamin not -- and netanyahu, the trip has been cancelled. this is the rampage ofront pagea today." the gulf coast as the top killer-is hope. anger and frustration surged across the gulf coast today as residents learned that the latest attempt to cap a renegade under water well had failed and that oil may keep gushing until at least august. the situation in north korea, writing from seoul, south korea, the sinking of the ship back on march 26 that killed 42 south korean sailors has prompted the government to throttle back on aid to the north and demand that the u.s. back sanctions before the u.s.. still legislator discussing holding of the turnover of military power to the military power by u.s. forces, which have had a large base here since the 1950 through 1953 korean war. we will begin with charles from all paso, texas. democrats line. good morning. caller: internationally when it comes to foreign relations, we have nothing but trouble. but domestically we have nothing but trouble spots, but as far as economics are concerned at -- europe h

. >> today israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu defended his country's blockade of gaza and criticized and other world leaders over their criticism of the reaction to the flotilla. this is 10 minutes. >> good evening. the state of israel is confronting international hypocrisy. it is not the first time. two years again, we dealt with the rockets a of hamas aater we left gaza. they hid behind the citizens. we try to prevent as much as possible the herding of an innocent population. but deepite all of this, who did the un accuse in war crimes? not hamas, but israel. and regretfully something similar is happening now. here are the facts. hamas is continuing to arm itself. of iran is continuing to smuggle weapons into gaza. i want to clarify that the rockets that iran is smuggling into gaza are intended to hurt the sediments are around gaza -- the settlements are around gaza. we warned about this in the past and today i am telling you, the munitions and rockets that iran is trying to smuggle into gaza will hurt tel aviv, jerusalem, and even beyond. and some of it is already within gaza. thi

>> obviously, the president spoke on three occasions yesterday with prime minister netanyahu.egret that, but understand completely why he went back to israel and had to cancel the meeting. the schedule for mr. baas coming is still the same. more than ever, we need comprehensive middle east peace plans. >> will mr. mitchell be [unintelligible] >> i do not know his schedule on the top of my head. >> does president obama believe the israeli government's version of events? >> again, let me refer you to the un security council statement. >> the investigation, does the president won the international community to be involved in the investigation -- does the president want the international community to be involved in the investigation? >> obviously, we are open to weigh is to assure a credible investigation, including international participation. >> there were americans on the flotilla. do we have any information about whether any of them were hurt? there are unconfirmed reports that an american student was lost. >> we have been in contact with the israelis in order to get an accoun

if you support a democratic jewish state of israel and want to see prime minister netanyahu take chances for peace, hamas is the enemy desperate to ensure that he never will. if you want the united states to be active in helping israelis and palestinians to make peace, hamas are the people working against our every effort . gi lad shalit is one soldier. but his captivity tells you everything you need to know about hamas. as the resolution makes clear, contrary to both international humanitarian law and most basic standards of human conduct, hamas has prevented all access to gilad shalit by medical personnel and the representative of the international committee of the red cross. they have done this time and time again. madam speaker, they have just done it again today. they deny him the humane treatment to which any captive is entitled and they bar any communication by him of his family and they have compelled him to appear on propaganda videos. each of these unconscionable choices demonstratessthe amoral and depraved character of hamas. these allegedly religious militants are nothing but

obviously if president obama wants to offer them to president abbas he's got to get them first from netanyahuwhat obama himself can offer and, of course, this was discussed even before this gaza flotilla, would heint at some kind of possible new u.s. initiative. that assuming the proximity talks don't succeed in yielding meaningful progress and leading into direct talks, which is the goal at the moment, that obama might consider launching some kind of new u.s. initiative further articulating how the u.s. sees a two-state solution and so forth. but i think that is something that can probably only be hinted at this point. my guess is if president abbas wants that from the united states he's going to hav to wait another 5, 6 months at least for that. privately, though, i do think that obama should be talking to president abbas about the need to get the west bank and gaza back together. and, you know, as we've said, the need to somehow encourage him to get the palestinian house in order. briefly on the question of turkey as a mediator, i don't think the egyptians are going to give up that role ea